The Power of Nostalgia: Can Looking Back Help Us Move Forward?
I don’t know about you, but summertime always seems very nostalgic. Memories of riding my bike through the neighborhood with my childhood best friend or running through the sprinkler on a hot day followed by an ice pop or lemonade. Spending most of my time outside but taking breaks to come inside and play Mario Kart on the Wii with my brother or read a book for summer reading.
Along with these memories, there are also sounds and smells that you may associate with the season, such as freshly cut grass, suntan lotion, the chlorine from a swimming pool, the ice cream truck jingle coming through your neighborhood or the neighborhood next door, or the crickets chirping at night. Many sounds, scents, sights/places, textures, flavors, and more, can (and tends to) prompt a sense of nostalgia and bring us back to a time in our past/childhood – but what exactly does nostalgia mean, and how can it affect mental health?
Nostalgia is defined as the “longing and affection for the past”, one that is usually wistful and remembering of a simpler time, such as when we were children. While it was originally created to describe the “sorrow experienced by homesick soldiers,” it is now seen in a more positive light. There are many things that can cause nostalgia, including:
Sensory Experiences. This will usually refer to familiar feels, scents, sounds, sights and tastes that take us back to a moment in our past or remind us of a person or place that we love. For example, the taste of gumdrops reminds me of baking with my grandmother in her kitchen while Michael Bublé’s Christmas album plays in the background. For my co-worker, it is the smell of old books, which reminds her of her grandparents’ house. She said her grandfather was an avid reader and had books all over the house.
Reminiscing. This may happen when you’re looking through old photographs, driving by an area you used to live or spend time in, or just having a conversation with a family member or friend and someone brings up the “good old times.”
Life Changes. These usually include major life changes/transitions such as graduating, moving, or retiring. It can also be when you hit certain milestones, such as big anniversary or you turn a new decade. For me, I distinctly remembering graduating from college and being both nervous and excited to enter the “real world.” However, looking back at the fun times and fond memories helped provide comfort and to cope better with the transition.
While all these things can bring about nostalgia, the truth on what can cause nostalgia and the feelings around it are a bit more complicated. First, not everyone will feel the same reaction or nostalgia to the same events or even a sense of nostalgia at all. The way or how I remember something will most likely be different than how my brother or cousin or parents remember it. There is also the fact that some people have very few of the “good times” to look back on or, instead of certain sounds, smells, sights, etc., bringing up fond memories from our past, they are said to “serve as powerful triggers and transport individuals back to traumatic events and/or circumstances.”
Along with nostalgia differing from person to person or inadvertently causing unresolved trauma from the past, two other drawbacks or negative aspects of nostalgia include 1.) idealization of the past and 2.) too much time spent reliving the “glory days.” Idealizing or romanticizing the past, while relatively harmless, can encourage us to remember the happy and fun times instead of the (sometimes) harsh reality of our childhood. While there isn’t anything wrong with having good memories, idealization of memories could paint an inaccurate picture of the past.
Related to this is a study done in 2020 on nostalgia and the way it shows up differently depending on what day you’re having in the present. More specifically, on how the study found that “people are most likely to feel nostalgic when things were going wrong in the present or when they were feeling more stressed, depressed, lonely, or overall dissatisfied with their life.” This is something I didn’t realize to be true until I thought about it further, but when I am feeling especially stressed, overwhelmed or ruminating on “what could’ve been,” I tend to reflect on the past and the “simple days.” I’ll complain about having to do every day, “adult” tasks and reminisce how much easier 12-15-20 years ago, forgetting about the problems I faced with schoolwork and test anxiety or struggling with self-esteem, to name a few. This is because it is easier to remember what we want to remember and block out the more unfortunate and/or painful parts of our past.
The second drawback or somewhat negative aspect of nostalgia is “spending too much time in the past.” Like the aspect of “idealizing or romanticizing our past,” this implies that we are trying to always relive our “glory days.” Signs that you are stuck in the past could look like; always comparing the past to the present, resisting change or personal growth of any kind, feeling disconnected or unhappy with the present, having conversations filled with “back then” stories/memories or previous achievements, and/or limiting planning for the future or refusing it altogether. These all could be signs that you’re living in the past and might be having trouble remaining in the present and/or looking towards the future.
While there can be drawbacks to nostalgia and the link between mental health, there can be positive aspects to it, as well. First, while getting “stuck” in the past isn’t necessarily a good thing, that doesn’t mean you can’t reflect at all. Looking back at your past can not only show you (hopefully) happy memories, but it can also remind you of how far you’ve come and everything that you have accomplished to this point. For example, if you find yourself struggling with something in the present, you can look back and know that you have made it through before and can do so again.
Nostalgia can also be associated to connectiveness with others. It can remind you of the times you’ve had with your parents, siblings, childhood friends, classmates, neighbors, or past romantic partners. The times that made you laugh together or even the sad moments that you shared together that made you closer. It can also help you connect to others in the present, as well, when meeting new people and making new friends. You may reflect on a TV show you all used to watch or a traditional snack that you would all eat after school or even a beloved childhood toy/game. All of these could be good ways to find common ground with strangers to build new and long-lasting relationships in the present.
Nostalgia can be a powerful thing. It can remind us of places and traditions and songs that we loved and long since forgotten. It can also bring up painful memories and events that we wish we didn’t remember at all. It can make it easy to idealize the past and what was, while also acknowledging that “what was” made us who we are today. Ultimately, while it is okay to reflect in the past, we should try our best not to get stuck in it. As a quote by Steve Maraboli says, ““We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future.”
Staff Blogger: Mollie Clupper
Mollie Clupper works for MHA as a Communications and Support Specialist. Using her own experiences, she wants to help bring awareness and end the stigma surrounding mental health. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, drinking coffee, and spending time with loved ones.